While there are some places that are going to be more prone to having earthquakes, an earthquake and its aftershocks can happen basically anywhere. Because of this, it’s wise to prepare yourself for the possibility that an earthquake, be it large or small, could take place where you live.
To help you and your family stay safe in this situation, here are three tips for preparing for an earthquake.
Prepare Emergency Supplies
As with any emergency, it’s wise to have some emergency supplies in place so that you can take immediate action if and when something happens. Luckily, the supplies that you’ll want to have when an earthquake happens are similar to the supplies that you’ll need for any other natural disaster.
As a good rule of thumb, you’ll want to have a backpack for each member of your family full of supplies to help you live for about three days. This should include extra clothes, hygiene supplies, food, medicine, and information about things like identification or insurance. You may also want to acquire items that might help you in the aftermath of an earthquake, which could include things like a shovel, sand bags, and a first aid kit.
With these items, you should be able to either hunker down in your home for a few days and stay safe or vacate your home for a safe location and come back when things have settled down.
Know How To Check Your Home For Damage
Ideally, your home wouldn’t have any damage after an earthquake. However, this isn’t always going to be the case. Because of this, you’ll want to know how to check your home for damage so that you can determine if it’s safe to stay there or not.
First off, you’ll want to check all of the utilities coming into and out of your home to make sure they’re not damaged. If there are any issues with your gas, water, electrical, or sewage systems, you’ll want to call your service providers immediately to get a technician to your home to better assess the situation.
Practice Drop, Cover, And Hold
The actual shocks of an earthquake can be quite jarring even when they’re small. So to help you and your family know what to do when they’re felt, it’s wise to practice drop, cover, and hold protocols.
With drop, cover, and hold, you’ll practice dropping to the ground and making yourself small so that your chances of getting hurt are smaller. You’ll then want to find something secure for you to cover yourself with to protect you from debris or other falling items. And finally, you’ll want to hold yourself in place until the shaking stops.
If you want to make sure that you and your family are prepared for an earthquake at your home, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you with this.
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